Messi's Final Argentina Match: Castro, Soulé, and Balerdi Called Up

Argentina is set to play a series of friendly matches following their World Cup final loss to Spain. The most significant event will be Lionel Messi's final appearance for the Albiceleste. He will take the field for the last time with the national team against Benin on October 6th at the Monumental in Buenos Aires. Messi announced his retirement from international football via social media recently, and this match against the African nation marks the end of his celebrated career with Argentina.

Joining Messi for his final game are several players from the Italian league, notably three from Roma: Matías Soulé, Santiago Castro, and Leo Balerdi. These players will join the Argentine camp after their league match against Inter. Other Serie A representatives in the squad include Lautaro Martínez, Nico Paz, and Nico González. Messi, De Paul, and Lo Celso will join the team directly for the Benin match. The rest of the squad will be available for coach Scaloni for the games against Bolivia on September 30th and Burkina Faso on October 3rd.

The full squad list is as follows:

• Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martínez (Chelsea), Juan Musso (Atlético Madrid), Gerónimo Rulli (Manchester City);
• Defenders: Agustín Giay (Palmeiras), Leo Balerdi (AS Roma), Cuti Romero (Atlético de Madrid), Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United), Juan Foyth (Villarreal), Facundo Medina (Bayer Leverkusen), Nicolás Tagliafico (Lyon), Román Vega (Zenit);
• Midfielders: Enzo Fernández (Manchester City), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Valentín Barco (Chelsea), Giovani Lo Celso (Betis), Exequiel Palacios (Ipswich Town), Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami), Nico Paz (Como), Franco Mastantuono (Fiorentina);
• Forwards: Matías Soulé (AS Roma), Giuliano Simeone (Atlético Madrid), Nico González (Juventus), Gianluca Prestianni (Benfica), José Manuel López (Palmeiras), Santiago Castro (AS Roma), Julián Álvarez (Atlético Madrid), Lautaro Martínez (Inter), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami).